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Numbers 23
Numbers 23:1
Balak
This is the king of Moab. See how you translated this in Numbers 22:2.
prepare seven bulls and seven rams
"kill seven bulls and seven rams as a sacrifice"
Numbers 23:2
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Numbers 23:3
Stand at your burnt offering and I will go
"Stay here with your burnt offering and I will go a distance away"
Numbers 23:4
I have offered up a bull and a ram
It has already been stated that he killed these animals as a burnt offering. Alternate translation: "I have killed a bull and a ram and burnt them as an offering" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Numbers 23:5
Yahweh put a message in Balaam's mouth
Here Yahweh giving Balaam a message to speak is spoken of as if Yahweh placed it in his mouth. Alternate translation: "Yahweh told Balaam what he wanted him to say to Balak" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Numbers 23:6
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Numbers 23:7
Balak has brought me from Aram ... the king of Moab from the eastern mountains
These phrases mean the same thing. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
'Come, curse Jacob for me,' ... 'Come, defy Israel.'
Both of these statements mean the same thing. They emphasize that Balak wants Balaam to curse the people of Israel. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
Numbers 23:8
How can I curse those whom God has not cursed? How can I oppose those whom Yahweh does not oppose?
These rhetorical questions emphasize Balaam's refusal to disobey God. They can be translated as statements. Alternate translation: "But I cannot curse those whom God has not cursed. I cannot fight against those whom Yahweh does not fight!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Numbers 23:9
from the top of the rocks I see him ... from the hills I look at him
These two phrases mean the same thing. Balaam viewed Israel from the top of a hill. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
I see him ... I look at him
Here "him" is a metonym that refers to the people of Israel. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
there is a people
"there is a group of people"
do not consider themselves as just an ordinary nation
This negative statement is used to stress that the opposite is true. Alternate translation: "they consider themselves to be a special nation" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-litotes)
Numbers 23:10
Who can count the dust of Jacob or number even only one-fourth of Israel?
Here "dust of Jacob" is a metaphor that speaks of the number of Israelites as if they were as numerous as the specks of dust. This rhetorical question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "There are too many Israelites to count. No one could count even a fourth of them because there are so many." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
the death of a righteous person
It is understood that this will be a peaceful death. This can be stated. Alternate translation: "the peaceful death of a righteous person" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
a righteous person ... like his
These are metonymies that refer to the people of Israel as a single person. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
Numbers 23:11
Balak
This is the king of Moab. See how you translated this in Numbers 22:2.
What have you done to me?
Balak uses this question to scold Balaam. This rhetorical question can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "I cannot believe you did this to me!" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
but look
This emphasizes the shocking action that follows.
Numbers 23:12
Should I not be careful to say only what Yahweh puts in my mouth?
Balaam uses this rhetorical question to defend his actions. This can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "I must be very careful to say only what Yahweh tells me to say." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
to say only what Yahweh puts in my mouth
The message is spoken of as if it is something that God put into his mouth. See how you translated a similar phrase in Numbers 22:38. Alternate translation: "to say only what Yahweh wants me to say" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Numbers 23:13
There you will curse them for me
"There you will curse the Israelites for me"
Numbers 23:14
field of Zophim
Translators may add a footnote that says: "The word 'Zophim' means 'to watch' or 'to spy.'" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Mount Pisgah
This is the name of a mountain. See how you translated this in Numbers 21:20. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/translate-names)
Numbers 23:15
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Numbers 23:16
put a message in his mouth
The message is spoken of as if it is something that God put into his mouth. See how you translated a similar phrase in Numbers 22:38. Alternate translation: "told him what to say" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
He said
"Then Yahweh said"
Numbers 23:17
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Numbers 23:18
Balak, and hear ... Listen to me, you son of Zippor
These two phrases mean the same thing and are repeated to emphasize how important it was for Balak to pay attention. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
Balak ... son of Zippor
See how you translated these names in Numbers 22:2.
Numbers 23:19
Has he promised anything without doing it? Has he said he would do something without carrying it out?
Both of these questions mean the same thing and emphasize that God does what he says he will. These rhetorical questions can be translated as statements. Alternate translation: "He has never promised a thing without fulfilling what he promised. He has always done exactly what he said he would do." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Numbers 23:20
I have been commanded to bless
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "God has commanded me to bless the Israelites" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Numbers 23:21
disaster in Jacob ... trouble in Israel
These two phrases mean the same thing. Possible meanings are 1) God has given Israel only good things or 2) there is no sin in Israel that would cause him to judge them. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism)
the shout of the king is among them
"they shout with joy because Yahweh is their king"
Numbers 23:22
with strength like that of a wild ox
This simile says that Yahweh's great strength is equal to an ox. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-simile)
Numbers 23:23
There is no sorcery that works against Jacob ... no fortune-telling harms Israel
These two lines mean the same thing, that no curse that anyone puts on the nation of Israel will be effective. Here "Jacob" is a metonym that refers to Israel. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-parallelism and rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metonymy)
it must be said
This can be stated in active form. "people must say" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-activepassive)
Look what God has done!
It is implied that what God did for them was good. Alternate translation: "Look at the good things God has done for them!"
Numbers 23:24
the people rise like a lioness ... he has killed
This verse is a long metaphor that speaks of Israel defeating her enemies as if Israel was a lion devouring its prey. (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-metaphor)
Numbers 23:25
Balak
This is the king of Moab. See how you translated this in Numbers 22:2.
Numbers 23:26
Did I not tell you that I must say all that Yahweh tells me to say?
Balaam uses this rhetorical question to remind Balak that Balaam refused to disobey God even before he came to Balak. It can be translated as a statement. Alternate translation: "I told you before that I must say all that Yahweh tells me to say." (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-rquestion)
Numbers 23:27
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Numbers 23:28
which looks down on the wilderness
It is understood that this wilderness was where Israel was camped. Alternate translation: "which looks down on the wilderness where Israel was" (See: rc://en/ta/man/jit/figs-explicit)
Numbers 23:29
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Numbers 23:30
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